As
part of our annual Founders Day festivities, we will pay tribute to our
2017 Alumni Awards recipients. This year’s honorees are accomplished,
talented and bring great honor and distinction to Virginia Wesleyan
University:
Douglas B. Wilson ’86
Distinguished Alumnus Award
Executive Vice President, LifeNet Health
Doug
Wilson received his B.A. degree in political science, with focus on
communication, from Virginia Wesleyan. His entire career has been spent
in biologics, as he started working in transplantation as an
administrator for a blood center and joined LifeNet Health in 1989. Doug
began as a field representative and went on to establish the marketing
and sales departments at LifeNet Health. In August 2006, Doug was
promoted to Executive Vice President and is responsible for the
Marketing and Business Development, Corporate Public Relations and
Legal matters. He also serves as Vice President of the LifeNet Health
Foundation, which provides resources for the research and donor family
support missions of LifeNet Health. Doug has received the Public
Relations Society of America (PRSA) Medallion award for Excellence in
Communications.
W. Taylor Franklin ’04
Alumni Service Award
Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, The Franklin Johnston Group
W.
Taylor Franklin is Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer with The
Franklin Johnston Group. His primary responsibilities include new
business development, multi-family management (est: 12,000 apartment
homes), the supervision of new construction and the location of new
development opportunities. Taylor works alongside the company’s
development team designing, planning, financing, and stabilizing new
apartment communities. He has been responsible for the development
of 15 communities over the past 12 years with a total value of $500
million. Taylor serves on the boards of many local organizations,
including the Chesapeake Bay Wine Classic, Access College Foundation
Board, and The Virginia Gentlemen. He is chairman of the board at
Norfolk Collegiate School.
Sydney A. Covey ’16
Graduate of the Last Decade (GOLD) Award
Sustainability Program Analyst, Hourigan Construction
As
the Sustainability Program Analyst for Hourigan Construction, Sydney
has been leading the Sustainable Construction certification processes on
many commercial and federal projects,
including Virginia Wesleyan's Greer Environmental Sciences Center and the interior fit out of the ADP Office in Norfolk. While
green building and construction practices are her focus, Sydney is also
assisting in developing Hourigan’s sustainability plan to manage the
company’s impact on the environment, community, and economy. As the
Sustainability Program Analyst, she is connecting green building
practices and corporate sustainability to help guide the organization to
a more sustainable business model. Sydney started with Hourigan as a
sustainability intern and has since been able to incorporate two other
VWU students in Hourigan’s summer internship program. She currently
serves on the Market Leadership Advisory Board for the USGBC-Hampton
Roads Community, as well as the Program Partners Committee for the
Lynnhaven River Now and the Hampton Roads Corporate Volunteer Council.
Our
Alumni Awards recipients will be recognized during an Alumni Awards
Celebration this Thursday, September 7, from 9:00-10:30 a.m. in Boyd
Dining Center East (please note: this event is by invitation) and again
at 11:00 a.m. during the Founders Day Convocation in the Jane P. Batten
Student Center.
Congratulations to our 2017 Alumni Awards honorees!
